Tabulating arrangement for business machines



Dec. 7, 1965 H. GEIS 3,221,864

TABULATING ARRANGEMENT FOR BUSINESS MACHINES Filed Feb. 26, 1963 FIG.

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26- Heinz Gal's INVENTOR.

inim! S. S'dr-ikef ,qrroe/vey United States Patent Cfice 3,221,864 Patented Dec. 7, 1965 3,221,864 TABULATING ARRANGEMENT FOR BUSINESS MACHINES Heinz Geis, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, assignor to Max Grundig, Forth, Bavaria, Germany Filed Feb. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 261,157 Claims priority, application Germany, Mar. 6, 1%2, G 34,409 20 Claims. (Cl. 197179) The present invention relates to a tabulating arrangement for business machines, and more particularly to a tabulating arrangement in which the tabulator stops are lockedv in the operative tabulating position so that they cannot be displaced during a tabulating operation.

Tabulating arrangements are known in which the tabulator stops are resiliently arrested in inoperative and tabulating positions. In arrangements of this type, the impact of the tabulator stop on a stationary tabulator member may displace the tabulator stop out of its tabulating position, particularly if the stationary tabulator member has a slanted engagement face. When the carriage on which the tabulator stops are mounted is repeatedly stopped in the same tabulating position, the repeated impact will displace the respective tabulator stop so that the same will assume its inoperative position. In this event, the carriage will'not be stopped in the desired tabulating position in the respective column of a form sheet, and the respective column will be skipped by the carriage.

It has been proposed to increase the biasing force of the arresting spring, but this solution requires an increased force for setting and clearing the tabulator stops.

Another disadvantage of the known tabulator arrangements of this type is that if a set tabulator stop in its tabulating position happens to be aligned with the clearing means when the same is accidentally operated during the carriage movement, the respective tabulator stop will be shifted to its inoperative position, and cleared.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage of known tabulator arrangements for business machines, such as typewriters, and to provide a tabulating arrangement in which each operative tabulator stop is automatically locked and prevented from returning to its inoperative position, except after being unlocked by clearing means.

Another object of the invention is to use the spring by which the tabulator stops are resiliently arrested in inoperative and tabulating positions, for the purpose of shifting each tabulator stop to a locked position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a tabulating arrangement clearing means for first unlocking a tabulator stop which is locked in its tabulating position, and for then moving the tabulator stop to its inoperative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide clearing means capable of successively unlocking all set and locked tabulator stops during carriage movement in a tabulating direction, or in a return direction.

Another object of the invention is to mount tabulator stops longitudinally shiftable to and from a set tabulating position, and transversely tiltable between a locked position and a released position permitting setting of the tabulator stops.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and compact, easily assembled tabulating arrangement in which each set tabulator stop is automatically locked until cleared. With these objects in view, the present invention relates to a tabulating arrangement for a business machine, such as a typewriter. One embodiment of the invention comprises a tabulator stop mounted on the carriage of the business machine for movement between an inoperative position and a tabulating position, and means for automatically locking the tabulator stop in the tabulating position against movement to the inoperative position. Clearing means are provided for releasing the tabulator stop from the locking means and for shifting the tabulator stop from the tabulating position to the inoperative position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a row of tabulator stops is mounted in slots of a support bar shiftable in longitudinal direction thereof between the inoperative and the tabulating position, and tiltable in a transverse direction to a locking position in which a locking projection on the respective tabulator stop engages the support bar for locking the tabulator stop in the tabulating position. The clearing means move in the same longitudinal direction, but first tilt an aligned set tabulator stop from the locking position into a position releasing the support bar, and then shift the tabulator stop from the set tabulating position to its inoperative position. A tabulator member cooperates with any aligned tabulator stop to shift the same from the inoperative position to the operative position, in which a biasing spring is effective for urging the respective stop to the locked position. The tabulator stops are held captive in the slots of the stop support by a blocking member which partly covers the slots in the stop support, and cooperates with a blocking shoulder or projection on each tabulator stop.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating the paper carriage of a business machine provided with a tabulating arrangement according to the present invention, conventional parts being only partly shown, or omitted, for the sake of simplicity and clarity;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 but illustrating the tabulating arrangement in another operational position;

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary front view of a stationary tabulator stop member shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating the tabulating arrangement in another operational position; and

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary rear view illustrating a clearing member shown in FIG. 3. Tabulating arrangements of the type with which the present invention is concerned, are disclosed in the US. Patents 2,655,245 and 2,317,183, and conventional features described in these patents are not illustrated in the drawings for the sake of clarity and simplicity.

Referring now to the drawings, a supporting member 2 is secured at the ends thereof to the end walls 1 of the paper carriage of a business machine, only one end wall 1 being shown in FIG. 1. Rollers 3 are mounted on support 2, and roll on rails 3a which are mounted on the stationary frame of the machine so that the carriage is movable in a writing and tabulating direction, and in an opposite return direction. Angle brackets 5 are secured by screws 4 to supports 2, and carry a stop support 7 which is a bar of U-shaped cross section secured to brackets 5 by means of screws 6.

Stop support bar 7 extends between the end walls 1 of the carriage, and has a pair of elongated leg portions 8 and 9, each of which has a row of spaced slots 11 and 12, respectively. Pairs of slots 11 and 12 are aligned in vertical direction, and a tabulator stop is mounted in each pair of aligned slots 11 and 12. Each tabulator stop 10 has a pair of arresting recesses 16 and 17 on opposite sides of an arresting projection 10a which is engaged by a projecting portion 18 of a channel-shaped spring comb which abuts the yoke portion of stop support bar 7. Spring 19 has recesses 21 engaging projections in the stop support bar 7 so that spring 19 cannot be displaced. The dimensions of spring 19 are selected so that spring 19 is resiliently deformed when engaging the arresting projections of all tabulator stops, and consequently urges each tabulator stop to its inoperative higher position when engaging the lower fiank of the arresting projection and tending to move into arresting recess 17, as shown in FIG. 1. Each tabulator stop has a blocking shoulder abutting in the inoperative position of FIG. 1 on a blocking bar 15 which is secured by screws 14 to leg portion 8, and partly covers the ends of slots 11. All tabulator stops are biased by spring 19 to move in slots 11 and 12 in tranverse direction until the edges 30 and 32 abut the edges 31 and 33 of slots 11 and 12. Movement of all tabulator stops is limited in upward direction by the blocking bar 15, and in downward direction by a projection 24 which abuts leg portion 9 in the lower tabulating position of tabulator stop 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the tabulating position of tabulator stop 10, projection 18 of spring 19 engages arresting recess 16, and urges the set tabulator stop 10 downward and in a transverse direction to the left as viewed in FIG. 2.

In the lower set tabulating position of a tabulator stop 10, a locking shoulder 34 thereof registers with the inner surface of leg portion 8 which forms a stop means fixed to carriage means 1, and consequently the tabulator stop assumes the position shown in FIG. 2 in which the locking projections 34 prevents upward movement of a set tabulator stop 10. Edge 31 and shoulder 34 form a locking means for positively holding the tabulator stop 10 against upward movement when the latter is in the position shown in FIG. 2.

Slots 12 are slightly wider than the corresponding lower end portion of each tabulator stop 10, and slots 11 are substantially wider than the upper end portion of each tabulator stop 10, and also wider than slots 12. Slot edges 31, 33 are substantially aligned in vertical direction, and the ends of the wider slots 11 located at the right as viewed in the drawing, are partly covered by blocking bar 15. Consequently, each tabulator stop can not only move in longitudinal direction thereof between the inoperative position shown in FIG. 1 and the tabulating position shown in FIG. '2, but can also tilt in the tabulating position shown in FIG. 2 from the locked position shown in FIG. 2 to the tilted released position shown in FIG. 3 in which the locking projection 34 releases the slot edge 31 of leg portion 8 of the stop support bar 7, and is located in the region of the corresponding slots 11 permitting the tabulator stop 10 to move from the position of FIG. 3 upwards to the inoperative position of FIG. 1 in which upward movement is stopped by engagement between the blocking shoulder 35 and the blocking bar 15.

Blocking bar 15 is removed during assembly, so that all tabulator stops 10 can be inserted into pairs of slots 11 and 12 while spring 19, 18 is resiliently deformed. In the position of FIG. 2, the blocking bar 15 is attached to the leg portion 8, so that all tabulator stops are held captive in the stop support bar 7.

Assuming that all tabulator stops are in the inoperative position of FIG. 1, and that a tabulator stop corresponding to a certain carriage position is to be set to the tabulating position shown in FIG. 2, the carriage is moved to the respective column position, and a tabulator member 22 is operated to move from the position shown in FIG. 1 to a lower position as indicated by the arrow 29. During such downward movement, which is effected under control of a conventional tabulator set key, the transverse projection 23 engages the projection 24 of the respective aligned tabulator stop 10, and moves tabulator stop 10 downward with the edge 30 sliding on the slot edge 31 under the bias of spring 18, 19. When the lower edge of projection 24 abuts the lower leg portion 9 of stop support bar 7, locking shoulder 34 registers with the lower surface of leg portion 8, and is momentarily in the position of FIG. 3, but spring 18, 19 urges the tabulator stop 10 to tilt in counterclockwise direction from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 2 in which tabulator stop 10 is locked against upward movement by the locking shoulder 34, which is engaged under edge 31 and against downward movement by projection 24. This is the tabulating position of a set tabulator stop, and it will be understood that no pressure of any kind acting against the tabulator stop in upward direction, will be able to displace the tabulator stop out of its set tabulating position, since it is positivelyy locked by the engagement of locking shoulder 34 with the leg portion 8.

When the carriage is tabulated to a position in which a set tabulator stop 10 runs against the stationary tabulating member 27, the lower end portion of the tabulator stop abuts the slightly slanted face 28 of the stationary tabulator stop 27. A component of the force will act to shift tabulator stop 10 upwards out of a tabulating position, and when the impacts on the same tabulator stop are repeated frequently, the tabulator stop may be displaced in conventional constructions in which it is arrested in the tabulating position only by the resilient pressure of the arresting spring 19. In the arrangement of the invention, however, the positively locked tabulator stop cannot be displaced at all, irrespective of how often the same tabulator stop runs against the stationery tabulator stop 27.

The carriage may assume a position in which a set tabulator stop 10 is aligned with the stationary tabulator stop 27, and if the latter is accidentally operated in this carriage position, and raised, its upper edge engages the lower edge of the set tabulator stop. If the tabulator stop were only resiliently arrested, such engagement would shift it back to its inoperative position. However, since the tabulator stop is locked by shoulder 34 in accordance with the present invention, even such accidental improper operation of the stationary tabulator stop 27 cannot displace and clear a set tabulator stop.

Since the tabulator stops 10 are locked in the set position, clearing means must be provided which not only shift a set tabulator stop from the tabulating position to the inoperative position, but which releasev and unlock a set tabulator stop before clearing the same.

The clearing means 25 is operated in a conventional manner by a tabulator clearing key, and is raised when the tabulator clearing key is actuated. The clearing means 25 is located below the end of projection 24, and normally in the inoperative position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When the clearing key is actuated, clearing means 25 is raised, and engages with its upper end the bottom face of projection 24. Consequently, a turning moment in clockwise direction is exerted on the respective tabulator stop 10 which is turned from the locked operative position shown in FIG. 2 to the release operative position shown in FIG. 3. As the upward movement of the clearing means 25 continues, the respective tabulator stop abuts on the edge of blocking bar 15, and cannot turn any farther in clockwise direction, so that the upward movement of clearing means 25 effects movement of the tabulator stop 10 in upward direction through slots 12 and 11 while the projection between arresting recesses 16 and 17 resiliently compresses spring 18, 19 until the resilient projection 18 has passed over the crest of the projection 10a and snaps into arresting recess 17, causing tabulator stop 10 to move all the way to its inoperative position in which blocking shoulder 35 engages blocking bar 15. Clearing means 25 need not be raised a corresponding distance, but may release projection 24 when resilient projection 18 moves into recess 17.

As shown in FIG. 3a, the top edge of clearing means 25 has two cam faces 26 and 26a which slant in opposite directions corresponding to the tabulating direction of the carriage, and to the return direction of the carriage. When the carriage is moved with the clearing means 25 in the operative raised position, either cam faces 26, or cam face 25a, will successively engage the bottom edges of projections 24 of all tabulator stops in the operative tabulating position, and will successively tilt each engaged tabulator stop from the locked position to the released position, and then raise the respective tabulator stop from the released set position shown in FIG. 3 to the inoperative position shown in FIG. 1.

When a number of tabulator stops 10 is to be set corresponding tocolumns of a form sheet supported on the platen of the paper carriage, the carriage is successively moved to the respective column position, and in each such column position, the tabulator set key is operated so that the tabulator member 22, 23 is moved downward and shifts the respective aligned tabulator stop 10 from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 2 in which spring 19 has automatically effected the tilting of the tabulator stop in counter-clockwise direction to the locked position in which shoulder 34 engages slot edge 31 of the stop support bar 7.

When a set tabulator stop is to be cleared, the carriage is tabulated to the respective position where it is stopped by the respective tabulator stop which is thus aligned with the clearing means 25. When the tabulator clearing key is operated, clearning means 25 is raised, tilts the respective tabulator stop 10 in clockwise direction by engagement with a projection 24 so that tabulator stop 10 is unlocked and released, whereupon further rising of clearing means 25 will effect shifting of tabulator stop 10 from its tabulating position to its inoperative position.

All set tabulator stops are automatically shifted back to the inoperative position when the clearing key is depressed to hold clearing means 25 in the raised clearing position, and the carriage is moved in tabulating direction or in Writing direction so that the slanting cam faces 26a, 26 of the clearing means successively engage and clear all set tabulator stops.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of tabulating arrangements difiering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a tabulating arrangement in which the tabulator stops are automatically locked in the tabulating position, and are unlocked by clearing means before the clearing means clear the respective tabulator stop, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so full reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint .prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A tabulating arrangement comprising, in combination, a carriage means; a tabulator stop mounted on said carriage means for movement between an inoperative position and a tabulating position and for movement in said tabulating posit-ion between a locked posit-ion and a released position; locking means for positively holding said tabulator stop when the latter is in said locked position thereof against movement out of said tabulating position so that said tabulator stop is movable out of said tabulating position only after movement thereof from said locked to said released position; means for biasing said tabulator stop toward said locked position; setting means for shifting said tabulator stop from said inoperative position to said tabulating position; and clearing means for shifting said tabulator stop from said locked .position to said released position, and in said released position from said tabulating position to said inoperative position.

2. A tabulating arrangement comprising, in combination, a carriage means including a stop support having a row of slots; a tabulator stop mounted on said carriage means in each slot of said stop support for movement between an inoperative position and -a tabulating position and for movement in said tabulating position between a locked position and a released position; locking means for positively holding said tabulator stop when the latter is in said locked position thereof against movement out of said tabulating position so that said tabulator stop is movable out of said tabulating position only after movement thereof from said locked to said released position; spring means mounted on said stop support and engaging said tabulator stops for biasing the same toward said locked position; setting means for shifting said tabulator stop from said inoperative position to said tabulating position; and clearing means for shifting a selected tabulator stop from said locked position to said released position, and thereafter in said released position from said tabulating position to said inoperative position.

3. A tabulating arrangement comprising, in combination, a carriage means; a tabulator stop mounted on said carriage means for longitudinal movement between an inoperative position and a tabulating position and for transverse movement in said tabulating position between a locked position and a released position; locking means for positively holding said tabulator stop when the latter is in said locked position thereof against movement out of said tabulating position so that said tabulator stop is movable out of said tabulating position only after movement thereof from said locked to said released position; biasing means for biasing said tabulator stop toward said locked position; setting means for shifting said tabulator stop from said inoperative position to said tabulating position; and clearing means longitudinally movable for shifting said tabulator stop first in said transverse direction from said locked position to said released position, and then in said released position longitudinally from said tabulating position to said inoperative position.

4. A tabulating arrangement comprising, in combination, a carriage means; a stop support fixed on said carriage means and having a row of slots; a tabulator stop mounted on said carriage means in each slot of said stop support for longitudinal movement between an inoperative position and a tabulating position and for transverse movement in said tabulating position between a locked position and a released position; locking means for positively holding said tabulator stop when the latter is in said locked position thereof against movement out of said tabulating position so that said tabulator stop is movable out of said tabulating position only after movement thereof from said locked to said released position; spring means mounted on said stop support and engaging said tabulator stops for biasing the same toward said locked position; setting means for shifting said tabulator stop from said inoperative .position to said tabulating position; and clearing means having a cam face slanted in a direction perpendicular to parallel planes passing through said slots and being longitudinally movable to a clearing position for shifting a selected tabulator stop first in said transverse direction from said locked position to said released position, and then in said released position in said longitudinal direction from said tabulating position to said inoperative position, and for successively engaging with said slanted cam face all tabulator stops in said tabulating position during carriage movement for unlocking and shifting said tabulator stops.

5. A tabulating arrangement comprising, in combination, a carriage means, movable in a tabulating direction and in a return direction; a row of tabulator stops extending in said tabulating direction, each tabulator stop being mounted on said carriage means for longitudinal movement between an inoperative position and a tabulating position and for transverse movement in said tabulating position between a locked position and a released position; locking means for positively holding said tabulator stop when the latter is in said locking position thereof against movement out of said tabulating position so that said tabulator stop is movable out of said tabulating position only after movement thereof from said locked to said released position; biasing means for biasing said tabulator stop toward said locked position; setting means for shifting said tabulator stop from said inoperative position to said tabulating position; and clearing means having a cam face slanted in said tabulating direction for shifting during movement of said carriage means said tabulator stops successively from said locked posi- .tion to said released position, and then in said released position in said longitudinal direction from said tabulating position to said inoperative position.

6. A tabulating arrangement comprising, in combination, a carriage means movable in a tabulating direction and in a return direction; a row of tabulator stops extending in said tabulating direction, each tabulator stop being mounted on said carriage means for longitudinal movement between an inoperative position and a tabulating position and for transverse movement in said tabulating position between a locked position and a released position; locking means for positively holding said tabulator stop when the latter is in said locked position thereof against movement out of said tabulating position so that said tabulator stop is movable out of said tabulating position only after movement thereof from said locked to said released position; biasing means for biasing said tabulator stop toward said locked position; setting means for shifting said tabulator stop from said inoperative position to said tabulating position; and clearing means having a pair of opposite cam faces slanted in said tabulating and return directions for shifting during movement of said carriage means in said tabulating direction and in the opposite return direction said tabulator stops successively from said locked position to said released position, and then in said released position in said longitudinal direction from said tabulating position to said inoperative position.

7. A tabulating arrangement comprising, in combination, a carriage means; a tabulator stop mounted on said carriage means for movement between an inoperative position and a tabulating position and for movement in said tabulating position between a locked position and a released position; locking means for positively holding said tabulator stop when the latter is in said locked position thereof against movement out of said tabulating position so that said tabulator stop is movable out of said tabulating position only after movement thereof from said locked to said released position; biasing means for biasing said tabulator stop toward said locked position; a manually operated tabulator member for moving said tabulator stop in said released position from said inoperative position to said tabulating position so that said biasing means moves said tabulator stop to said locked position; and clearing means for shifting said tabulator stop from said locked position to said released position, and in said released position from said tabulating position to said inoperative position.

8. A tabulator stop arrangement comprising, in combination, a stop support bar having a pair of opposite portions, each portion being formed with a row of spaced slots, pairs of slots in said opposite portions being aligned; a set of tabulator stops, each tabulator stop being mounted in a pair of aligned slots and having a locking projection, each tabulator stop being movable in a shifting direction through the respective pair of slots between an inoperative position and a tabulating position, said locking projection registering with one of said opposite portions in said tabulating position only, each tabulator stop being tiltable in the respective pair of slots in said tabulating position between a locked position in which said locking projection engages said one opposite portion for positively holding said tabulator stop in said locked position so as to lock the tabulator stop against movement out of said tabulating position, and a released position in which the tabulator stop is free to be shifted from said tabulating position to said inoperative position, said tabulator stop being movable out of said tabulating position only upon being first tilted from said locked to said released position thereof; biasing means for biasing said tabulator stops to move to said locked position and means for moving said tabulator stops between said inoperative and tabulating positions, and for moving said tabulator stops from said locked position to said released position.

9. A tabulator stop arrangement comprising, in combination, a stop support bar having a pair of opposite portions, each portion being formed with a row of spaced slots, pairs of slots in said opposite portions being aligned; a set of tabulator stops, each tabulator stop being mounted in a pair of aligned slots and having a locking projection, each tabulator stop being movable in a shifting direction through the respective pair of slots between an inoperative position and a tabulating position, said locking projection registering with one of said opposite portions in said tabulating position only, each tabulator stop being tiltable in the respective pair of slots in said tabulating position between a locked position in which said locking projection engages said one opposite portion for positively holding said tabulator stop in said locked position; so as to lock the tabulator stop against movement out of said tabulating position, and a released position in which the tabulator stop isfree to be shifted from said tabulating position to said inoperative position, each tabulator stop having at least one arresting portion, and each tabulator stop being movable out of said tabulating position only upon being first tilted from said locked to said released position thereof; resilient biasing means for biasing said tabulator stops to move to said locked position and engaging said arresting portions of said tabulator stops for resiliently arresting said tabulator stops in said inoperative and tabulating positions and means for moving said tabulator stops between said inoperative and tabulating positions, and for moving said tabulator stops from said locked position to said released position.

10. A tabulator stop arrangement comprising, in combination a stop support bar having a pair of opposite leg portions, each leg portion being formed with a row of spaced slots, the slots in one of said leg portions being wider than the slots in the other leg portion, pairs of slots in said opposite leg portions being aligned; a set of tabulator stops, each tabulator stop being mounted in a pair of aligned slots and having a locking projection, each tabulator stop being movable in a shifting direction through the respective pair of slots between an inoperative position and a tabulating position, said locking projection registering with said one of said leg portions in said tabulating position only, each tabulator stop being tiltable in the respective pair of slots in said tabulating position between a locked position in which said locking projection engages said one leg portion so as to lock the tabulator stop against movement out of said tabulating position, and a released position in which the tabulator stop is free to be shifted from said tabulating position to said inoperative position; a blocking member secured to said one leg portion and Partly covering said wider slots,

said blocking member being engaged by each of said tabulator stops in said inoperative position for blocking movement thereof beyond said inoperative position; biasing means for biasing said tabulator stops to move to said locked position and means for moving said tabulator stops between said inoperative and tabulating positions, and for moving said tabulator stops from said locked position to said released position.

11. A tabulator stop arrangement comprising, in combination a stop support bar having a pair of opposite leg portions, each leg portion being formed with a row of spaced slots, the slots in one of said leg portions being wider than the slots in the other leg portion, pairs of slots in said opposite leg portions being aligned; a set of tabulator stops, each tabulator stop being mounted in a pair of aligned slots and having a locking projection, each tabulator stop being movable in a shifting direction through the respective pair of slots between an inoperative position and a tabulating position, said locking projection registering with said one of said leg portions in said tabulating position only, each tabulator stop being tiltable in the respective pair of slots in said tabulating position between a locked position in which said locking projection engages said one leg portion so as to lock the tabulator stop against movement out of said tabulating position, and a released position in which the tabulator stop is free to be shifted from said tabulating position to said inoperative position, each tabulator stop having at least one arresting portion and a blocking shoulder; a blocking member secured to said one leg portion and partly covering said wider slots, said blocking member being engaged by said blocking shoulders of each of said tabulator stops in said inoperative position for blocking movement thereof beyond said inoperative position; a spring abutting said stop support bar and having a projecting portion extending along the length thereof and abutting said tabulator stops in the region of said arresting portions for resiliently arresting said tabulator stops in said inoperative and tabulating positions, and for moving each tabulator stop in said tabulating position to said locking position and means for moving said tabulator stops between said inoperative and tabulating positions, and for moving said tabulator stops from said locked position to said released position.

12. A tabulator stop arrangement comprising, in combination, a carriage means movable in a tabulating direction and in an opposite return direction; a stop support bar fixedly secured to said carriage means and having a pair of opposite portions, each portion being formed with a row of spaced slots, pairs of slots in said opposite portions being aligned; a set of tabulator stops, each tabulator stop being mounted in a pair of aligned slots and having a locking projection, each tabulator stop being movable in a shifting direction through the respective pair of slots between an inoperative position and a tabulating position, said locking projection registering with one of said opposite portions in said tabulating position only, each tabulator stop being tiltable in the respective pair of slots in said tabulating position between a locked position in which said locking projection engages said one opposite portion for positively holding said tabulator stop in said locked position so as to lock the tabulator stop against movement out of said tabulating position, and a released position in which the tabulator stop is free to be shifted from said tabulating position to said inoperative position, said tabulator stop being movable out of said tabulating position only upon being first tilted from said locked to said released position thereof; biasing means for biasing said tabulator stops to move said locked position; setting means for shifting said tabulator stop from said inoperative position to said tabulating position; and clearing means movable in said shifting direction for engaging and tilting different tabulator stops in different positions of said carriage means from said locked position to said released position, and for shifting the respective released tabulator stop from said tabulating position to said inoperative position.

13. A tabulator stop arrangement comprising, in combination, a carriage means movable in a tabulating direction and in an opposite return direction; a stop support bar fixedly secured to said carriage means and having a pair of opposite portions, each portion being formed with a row of spaced slots, pairs of slots in said opposite portions being aligned; a set of tabulator stops, each tabulator stop being mounted in a pair of aligned slots and having a locking projection, each tabulator stop being movable in a shifting direction through the respective pair of slots between an inoperative position and a tabulating position, said locking projection registering with one of said opposite portions in said tabulating position only, each tabulator stop being tiltable in the respective pair of slots in said tabulating position between a locked position in which said locking projection engages said one opposite portion for positively holding said tabulator stop in said locked position so as to lock the tabulator stop against movement out of said tabulating position, and a released position in which the tabulator stop is free to be shifted from said tabulating position to said inoperative position, said tabulator stop being movable out of said tabulating position only upon being first tilted from said locked to said released position thereof; biasing means for biasing said tabulator stops to moves to said locked position; setting means for shifting said tabulator stop from said inoperative position to said tabulating position; and clearing means having a pair of cam faces slanted in said opposite tabulating and return directions of said carriage means, said clearing means being movable in said shifting direction for engaging and for tilting different tabulator stops in different positions of said carriage means from said locked position to said released position, and for shifting the respective released tabulator stop from said tabulating position to said inoperative position, said cam faces engaging said tabulator stops successively during movement of said carriage means in said tabulating and return directions for tilting and shifting the respective tabulator stops to return the same to said inoperative position.

14. A tabulator stop arrangement comprising, in combination, a carriage means movable in a tabulating direction and in an opposite return direction; a stop support bar fixedly secured to said carriage means and having a pair of opposite portions, each portion being formed with a row of spaced slots, pairs of slots in said oposite portions being aligned; a set of tabulator stops, each tabulator stop being mounted in a pair of aligned slots and having a locking projection, each tabulator stop being movable in a shifting direction through the respective pair of slots between an inoperative position and a tabulating position, said locking projection registering with one of said opposite portions in said tabulating position only, each tabulator stop being tiltable in the respective pair of slots in said tabulating position between a locked position in which said locking projection engages said one opposite portion so as to lock the tabulator stop against movement out of said tabulating position, and a released position in which the tabulator stop is free to be shifted from said tabulating position to said inoperative position; biasing means for biasing said tabulator stops to move to said locked position; clearing means for tilting different tabulator stops in different positions of said carriage means from said locked position to said released position, and for shifting the respective released tabulator stop from said tabulating position to said inoperative position; and a tabulator member aligned with different tabulator stops in different positions of said carriage means and being movable in said shifting direction for moving an aligned tabulator stop from said inoperative position to said tabulating position so that said biasing means moves said aligned tabulator stop to said locked position.

15. A tabulator stop arrangement comprising, in combination, a carriage means movable in a tabulating direction and in an opposite return direction; a stop support bar fixedly secured to said carriage means and having a pair of opposite portions, each portion being formed with a row of spaced slots, pairs of slots in said opposite portions being aligned; a set of tabulator stops, each tabulator stop being mounted in a pair of aligned slots and having a locking projection, each tabulator stop being movable in a shifting direction through the respective pair of slots between an inoperative position and a tabulating position, said locking projection registering with one of said opposite portions in said tabulating position only, each tabulator stop being tiltable in the respective pair of slots in said tabulating position between a locked position in which said locking projection engages said one opposite portion so as to lock the tabulator stop against movement out of said tabulating position, and a released position in which the tabulator stop is free to be shifted from said tabulating position to said inoperative position; biasing means for biasing said tabulator stops to move to said locked position; clearing means having a pair of cam faces slanted in said opposite tabulating and return directions of said carriage means, said clearing means being movable in said shifting direction for engaging and for tilting different tabulator stops in different positions of said carriage means from said locked position to said released position, and for shifting the respective released tabulator stop from said tabulating position to said inoperative position, said cam faces engaging said tabulator stops successively during movement of said carriage means in said tabulating and return directions for tilting and shifting the respective tabulator stops to return the same to said inoperative position; and a tabulator member aligned with dilferent tabulator stops in different positions of said carriage means and being movable in said shifting direction for moving an aligned tabulator stop from said. inoperative position to said tabulating position so that said biasing means moves said aligned tabulator stop to said locked position.

16. A tabulating arrangement as set forth in claim 15 wherein said support bar has a, U-shaped cross section; and wherein said biasing means is a spring located within said U-shaped support bar abutting the same, and having an elongated portion engaging the central portions of all tabulator stops for urging the same to abut the ends of said pairs of slots removed from said spring.

17. A tabulating arrangement as set forth in claim 16, wherein each tabulator stop has a projection in the region of said central portion, and recesses on opposite sides of said projection, and wherein said portion of said biasing spring engages said recesses in said inoperative and tabulating positions of said tabulator stops, and shifts said tabulator stops to said inoperative and tabulating positions when the respective tabulator stop is moved to an intermediate position in which said portion of said biasing spring passes beyond the crest of said projection.

18. A tabulator stop arrangement comprising, in combination, a carriage means movable in a tabulating direction and in an opposite return direction; a stop support bar fixedly secured to said carriage means and having a pair of opposite leg portions, each leg portion being formed with a row of spaced slots, the slots in one of said leg portions being wider than the slots in the other leg portion, pairs of slots in said opposite leg portions being aligned; a set of tabulator stops, each tabulator stop being mounted in a pair of aligned slots and having an operating projection and a locking projection, each tabulator stop being movable in a shifting direction through the respective pair of slots between an inoperative position and a tabulating position, said locking projection registering with said one of said leg portions in said tabulating position only, each tabulator stop being tiltable in the respective pair of slots in said tabulating position between a locked position in which said locking projection engages said one leg portion so as to lock the tabulator stop against movement out of said tabulating position, and a released position in which the tabulator stop is free to be shifted from said tabulating position to said inoperative position; a blocking member secured to said one leg portion and partly covering said wider slots, said blocking member being engaged by each of said tabulator stops in said inoperative position for blocking movement thereof beyond said inoperative position; biasing means for biasing said tabulator stops to move to said locked position; setting means for shifting said tabulator stop from said inoperative position to said tabulating position; and clearing means movable in said shifting direction for engaging said operating projection for tilting diiferent tabulator stops in different positions of said carriage means from said locked position to said released position, and for shifting the respective released tabulator stop from said tabulating position to said inoperative position.

19. A tabulating arrangement comprising, in combination, carriage means; a tabulator stop mounted on said carriage means for movement in one direction between an inoperative position and a tabulating position, and for movement in said tabulating position transversely to said direction between a locked position and a released position; locking means for positively holding said tabulator stop when the latter is in said locked position thereof against movement out of said tabulating position so that said tabulator stop is movable out of said tabulating position only after movement thereof from said locked to said released position; means for moving said tabulator stop from said inoperative position to said locked position for tabulating operations; and clearing means for first moving said tabulator stop from said locked position to said released position, and for then moving said tabulator stop out of said tabulating position.

20. A tabulating arrangement comprising, in combination, carriage means; a tabulator stop mounted on said carriage means for movement in one direction between an inoperative position and a tabulating position, and for tilting movement in said tabulating position transversely to said direction between a locked position and a released position, said tabulator stop having a portion projecting in a direction transverse to said direction; locking means for positively holding said tabulator stop when the latter is in said locked position thereof against movement out of said tabulating position so that said tabulator stop is movable out of said tabulating position only after movement thereof from said locked to said released position; biasing means for urging said tabulator stop to said locked and inoperative positions; setting means for moving said tabulator stop from said inoperative position to said locked position for tabulating operations; and clearing means movable opposite to said one direction and cooperating with said projecting portion of said tabulator stop for first tilting said tabulator stop from said locked position to said released position, and for then moving said tabulator stop out of said tabulating position.

References Cited by theExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS 979,215 12/1910 Smith 197179 1,109,870 9/1914 Ramsey 197-179 1,247,084 11/1917 Corcoran 197l79 1,607,112 11/1926 Barney 197l79 1,901,162 3/1933 Helmond 197-70 1,926,165 9/1933 Myers et a1. 197-70 X 2,023,508 12/1935 Benner 19770 2,053,079 9/ 1936 Helmond 197-70 2,277,277 3/1942 Tombolini 197-179 X 2,317,183 4/1943 Dobson 19770 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TABULATING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CARRIAGE MEANS; A TABULATOR STOP MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE MEANS FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION AND A TABULATING POSITION AND FOR MOVEMENT IN SAID TABULATING POSITION BETWEEN A LOCKED POSITION AND A RELEASED POSITION; LOCKING MEANS FOR POSITIVELY HOLDING SAID TABULAR STOP WHEN THE LATTER IS IN SAID LOCKED POSITION THEREOF AGAINST MOVEMENT OUT OF SAID TABULATING POSITION SO THAT SAID TABULATOR STOP IS MOVABLE OUT OF SAID TABULATING POSITION ONLY AFTER MOVEMENT THEREOF FROM SAID LOCKED 